Initially, the availability of the vaccine made it difficult for people in rural communities to access it. Now, there are other variables involved.
“The most compelling reason people are not getting vaccinated is because of trust,” Sharrett said. “They do not trust our government, they don’t trust the vaccine, they don’t trust the vaccine manufacturers. There really is still a level of distrust out there.”
Sharrett spoke Thursday during the Ohio Department of Health’s press conference about COVID-19, joining other health officials.
When his patients come to him with questions about the vaccine, Sharrett said he tries to address any concerns they may have.
“What I’m able to share now with patients more than ever is that yes I do trust the vaccine,” he said. “We talk about the mRNA technology, and I share with them that these vaccines raise the bar in terms of vaccination and these are best vaccines I’ve seen in terms of being effective and being safe.”
Sharrett explained people in rural communities tend to have a different outlook than those in suburban and urban areas and may have a level of independence that give them a different mindset about health care and illness.
“There’s also a discrepancy for vaccination rates when you look at other vaccines,” he said. “When you look at the shingles vaccine, the pneumonia vaccine, the influenza vaccine.”
Sharrett added he urges patients who aren’t vaccinated against COVID to reconsider and explains it isn’t too late.
“We explain to patients we’re going to face COVID. There’s no question about it,” he said. “Are you better off with the vaccine or without the vaccine? The more we study the vaccines the more there is for us to be confident in them. The vaccines clearly make a difference. They clearly are game changers.”
For parents, any vaccine hesitancy they have also includes their children. Some parents who are vaccinated may be concerned that their kids could suffer long-term effects from it.
“The fact that we now have over a year of experience with this vaccine. We would’ve seen those problems,” Sharrett said. “...The consequences and long-term from the virus are much more significant than the consequences of the vaccine.”
About the Author